Metallic dolly



J. B. FLETCHER METALLIC DOLLY Oct. 13, 1931.

Filed Oct. 12, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 II IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHH INVENTOR W K ATIORNEYJ Oct. 13, 1931.

J. B. FLETCHER METALLIC DOLLY Filed 001:. 12, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR )7 ATTORNEY,

Patented 0a. 13, 1931 JOHN B. FLETCHER, OF NEWPQRTQKENTUGKY I METALLIC n ciz'n mz Application filed October 12,- 1929., Serial in. 399,337.

This invention relates to improvements in dollies for washing machines, particularly to the'type in which the dolly is slidingly suspended from the end of a vertical driving i5\ shaft-for oscillating the dolly within the tubs of the Washing machine.

An object of-theinvention is to improve the structure of the washing machine dolly to increase its efficiency and durability and operate more smoothly with a reduced power.

Another object of the invention is to provide an all metallic washing machine dolly with fiat radial stubs or beater arms extending integrally from the lower side of a convex disc, the disc having a polygonal shaft coupling sleeve, slidable Within a hubof the disc.

Another object of the invention is to provide an anti-friction load bearing for the dolly shaft equipped with a stufiing box to revent lubricant from seeping down the shaft into the tub of the washing machine.

' Other features and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an all metal dolly and the bearing box fixed to the lid of the washing machine for suspending the'dolly Within the-tub portion.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the dolly. I 7

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken. on line 3-3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is asectional View taken on line 4- 11, Figure 1 Figure 5 is a perspective view of the bearing box with the roller bearing. and shaft omitted. I

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a nutlike cap fixed to the underside of the bearing box. 1 I

Referring to the'drawings, the dolly Coinprises a concaved metal disc 1 having a central hub 2 extending from' opposite'sides thereof and a plurality of radially disposed beater arms 3 integral with the disc and extending perpendicular from the lower side thereof. r

The arms are of plate form preferably four in number, and therefore in pairs along diametric lines, extending slightly beyond the 7 periphery or rim of the disc with their outer edges converging or curving toward {the rim of the disc. The dolly is therefore of an metalstructure, preferably of an alloy castinjg, very light in weight, and the arms in the flat form provide increased. areas of beaterfsurfaces for greater agitation of the clothes and water within the tub operated upon by the dolly.

The dolly and its actuating shaft'are suspended from the swinging lid or cover of the tuband t lnis swing therewith when the cover is opened or closed. The crown around the upper side of the dolly readily shunts the water as the dolly is Withdrawn from the The entiredesign of the dolly is of a form. to obtain grezrtereiiiciency and reduction of weight so that itcan be operated at a rednction in power and with less backlash from centrifugal action when the direction of r0- tation is reversed, the dolly in operation oscillating, making one or more revolutions in one direction and then ina'reverse direction.

The bore of .116 hub of "thedolly is of lygenai form to receive a polygonal sleeve 4 which is fixedtothe'endof the driving. shaft 5. the sleeve rotatively and slidably coupling 1 the dolly to the shaft, allowing thed oi ly to be adjusted at differentelevations for accommodating itself to various capacities of clothes in thewashing machine tub.-

The lower endiof thers leeve has an annular flange 6 forengagement witlr't'he loW-erend of the hub of the dol ly'to securethe' samc of metal and hi-ngedly connects'with the tub so that the cover may be swungto opened position. for access'i'ntothe tub. Y

The journal awn engages. through the cover and is fixed thereto'bybolts 1:0 engaged through aflange 11- extending from the periphery of the journal box and bearing against the undersideiof the cover. The

"all

journal box at its opposite ends is counterbored or recessed to provide for a packing box at one end and a seat for anti-friction load bearings at the opposite end.

A packing 12 is engaged within the counterbore at the lower end of the journal box about the shaft and compressed by a gland or sleeve nut 13 screw-threaded into the box. The nut l3 is locked against turning by a lock plate 14 ei'igaged about the polygonal head of the nut, the plate removably secured to the journal box by a screw 15 passing through cars 16 extending from the plate 14. The lock plate securely locks the nut against displacement or unscrewing with the rotation of the shaft which operates in reverse directions for oscillating the dolly.

A packing effects a seal against any leakage r seepage of lubricant through the stuffing box and downwardly upon the shaft. Seal ing about he shaft against escape of lubricant permits the transmission gear and antifriction load bearings to be constantly run in lubricant without allowing the lubricant gettine; upon the clothes or getting into the wash water of the tub.

A load sustaining roll or hearing 17 seats within the counterbore at the upper end of the journal box having a cone 18 fixed upon the shaft under a drive or compression fit with, the upper end of the cone engaged by the hub of a gear 19 also fixed upon the shaft. The gear 19 is appropriately rotated in reverse directions by transmission mechanism (not shown). The gear and transmission mechanism are housed within a lubricant holding casing: preferably formed integrally with the metallic cover 2 of the washing machine tub, this likewise not being shown.

The shaft an d dolly are suspended from the tub cover moving therewith as the cover is raised with the dolly slidably upon the shaft to accommodate for various wash passages within the tub. The anti-friction load bearing sustains the shaft to the dolly providing for smooth rotation to the shaft and adapting: the same to be operated at a reduction of power.

The structure of the dolly and its journal is very simple and cheap in manufacture and very durable requiring no attention of the operator except occasional tightening of the gland nut to insure against the leakage of lubricant from the transmission casing of the cover which is intended to hold a suffi cient supply of lubricant for a long period to relieve the operator who is inexperienced in handling machinery from the burden and necessity of lubricating the rotary or moving parts each time the machine is used.

Havingdescribed my invention. 1 claim An all metal dolly for washing" machines. con'iprisin a disc ha a central hub, plane faced arms extending from the lower side of the disc .in radial lines, a polygonal-sided sleeve slidably engaged through said hub, providing a movable stem for the disc and the polygonal-sided contour rotatedly connecting the sleeve and disc, a sleeve flange at one end providing a head for connecting the sleeve to the hub against longitudinal displacement and dependingly sustaining the disc and a shaft engaged into the opposite end of the sleeve and fixed thereto.

in witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

JOHN B. FLETCHER 

